When it comes to succession planning, there are fantastic successes and spectacular failures. But get it right and the rewards for private – and investment – banks can make it all worthwhile.

The country’s economy is going through tough times, putting a greater onus on private bankers to look after their clients’ investments. An emphasis on overseas diversification of portfolios is crucial. However, domestic investments still take up the greater share and require careful management

The nation’s private banking industry is blossoming, but even as it flourishes, leading players have to move fast to keep up with a changing market and an increasingly demanding and diverse client base. Euromoney gathered together a panel of private bankers, wealth managers and economists to discuss the market’s key issues in July.

By anyone’s book, Bank of Palestine has recorded fantastic figures for the first half of 2015. The fact that it has achieved these numbers in such difficult circumstances is testament to the resourcefulness of its people. It’s a trait shown across the Territories. How do they do it?

Farouk Shami is a small man with a big personality and a not inconsiderable mouth. He likes to recall that he left Palestine for America in his youth with about $70 in his pocket; in the intervening 50 years he has invented the world’s first ammonia-free hair colour, made his fortune with a Houston-based hair and skin care company, run for governor of Texas as a Democrat (he wrecked his campaign, he says, by saying that white people don’t want to work in factories) and formed a highly unlikely friendship with Donald Trump.

Indonesians hold $300 billion in Singapore; controversial tax amnesty on the cards.

System launched for equity-linked notes; six banks back new venture.

Opinion is divided on the extent to which private-bank clients should be encouraged to consider FX as an asset class and to look at strategies to generate returns from currency volatility. In any case, most private-bank clients are dollar bulls.

Increased costs outweigh better revenues; technology will take time to repay investments.

Few banks have navigated turbulent times so well, posting record revenues on the back of strong net inflows and rising markets.

JPMorgan Private Bank clients enjoy the best of both worlds: an intimate relationship with a US lender that is allied to the power of a genuinely global financial leader. It is led by Mary Callahan Erdoes.

In the US, JPMorgan has 55 dedicated private banking offices, from Austin to Seattle, and Cincinnati to Fort Lauderdale. Elsewhere, it focuses heavily on serving high and ultra-high net-worth customers in Europe, where it has eight offices, including the UK and Germany, Asia, through Hong Kong and Singapore, and Latin America, with clients served out of Miami, New York and Switzerland.

JPMorgan Private Bank wins this year’s top award, as well as being named the world’s best private bank for ultra-high-net-worth individuals 2023, and the world’s best private bank for investment research 2023.

The global wealth expert has expanded its vision, horizon and profits this year

The great financial innovator shone again in global wealth management.